It has been shown that Lyme disease epidemics can be stopped by adequately reducing deer populations, thus decreasing deer tick densities (“State must consider culling the deer herd,” July 23).

This has occurred at places like Great Island, Massachusetts, and Mumford Cove, Connecticut, despite the presence of other animals such as raccoons, skunks, etc., which can host the adult deer tick. These animals have not been able to take the place of deer.

Dr. Sam Telford, a professor at Tufts University, states that at Great Island, maintaining the deer population at 8 per square mile has resulted in an 80 percent reduction of tick density. Dr. Kirby Stafford, chief scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment, reports that at Mumford Cove, maintaining the deer population at 5.1 per square kilometer has resulted in a 76 percent reduction in tick density and an 80 percent lowering of the incidence of Lyme disease cases.

The deer tick also infects us with potentially fatal diseases like anaplasmosis and babesiosis, which are on the rise. Our fondness for deer should not mean that we ignore human health.